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Exterior Enhancements Define New Facility as Front Door to Community

Contact: Jeff MurphyWARRENSBURG, MO (Feb. 3, 2014) – Exterior enhancements that will aesthetically strengthen the new mixed-use facility as a gateway to the Warrensburg community were approved by the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors when it met in a special teleconference Jan. 30. The board voted to collaboratively implement with building architectural and construction teams value engineering efforts to help cover up to $500,000 in work needed to give the new student housing and retail facility a more modern appearance without compromising the quality of the facility.

Board action was taken during a special meeting by telephone. A decision followed discussion that was led by UCM President Charles Ambrose and board member Weldon Brady from Warrensburg. Joining the board were other members of the administration and representatives of Gould Evans, the Kansas City area firm that is serving as bridging designer and owner’s representative for the project.

Ambrose said he and Brady discussed the need to move beyond blending the mixed-use facility with other campus residence halls, which have stood for many years. They believe the new building should “define the front door to the north side of campus.”

Gould Evans Principal Dennis Strait said architectural enhancements will include additional cast stone products and glass to give the façade a more modern appearance. The improvements, he added, will also provide a more residential appeal, differentiating the building from the traditional, institutional look of other residence halls on campus.

The university will work with Gould Evans, McCownGordon Construction and Treanor Architects, Kansas City, to seek cost-savings strategies through value engineering. If enhancements cannot be completely made through such efforts, the university will consider reducing contingency funds for the project, then, if necessary use funds from Student Housing reserves.

The mixed-use facility is scheduled for completion in fall 2015, and will accommodate approximately 325 students in a mix of two- and four-bedroom units that feature kitchens, living areas, and private bathrooms for each two students, with supporting community spaces. It will also include retail space with the building, including a new University Store, and one to three separate restaurant/coffee shop spaces. The total university budget, which also includes upgrades to the adjacent Audrey J. Walton Stadium at Vernon Kennedy Field to include new locker rooms on the lower level of the stadium, new visitors seating on the east side of the field, and an upgraded entryway at the southwest side of the football field, is $48.6 million.

The university is building the mixed-use facility at the current site of the General Services Building. The GSB will be demolished this spring and its services will move to a new location on the east side of campus, which is the site of the former South East Elementary School.